Search

Newsletter

Get our latest updates. Sign up with your email.

Popular Posts

Guide to Setting Up a Secure Jump Server with OpenSSH

2 views
Guide to Setting Up a Secure Jump Server with OpenSSH

Are you looking to securely manage your remote servers? Using a jump server with OpenSSH is one of the best methods to achieve this. A jump server acts as an intermediary between your local system and your remote servers, helping you access them securely. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of setting up a secure jump server for remote administration using OpenSSH.

Ubuntu, CentOS, etc.).
  • Remote servers that you want to administer.
  • OpenSSH installed on both the jump host and the remote servers.

    Let's get started!

    Prompt
    sudo apt-get install openssh-server

    • Once installed, start the SSH service with:

    Prompt
    sudo systemctl start ssh

    And to ensure that SSH starts automatically at boot, enable it with:

    Prompt
    sudo systemctl enable ssh
    Here are some recommended configurations:

    • Change the default SSH port (default is 22) to a high-value port (e.g., 2222).
    • Disable root login by setting "PermitRootLogin" to "no".
    • Limit the users who can log in by using the "AllowUsers" directive followed by the usernames.
    • Enable key-based authentication by setting "PasswordAuthentication" to "no".

      After making the changes, save and exit the file. Then, restart the SSH service for the changes to take effect:

      Prompt
      sudo systemctl restart ssh

      Prompt
      ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096

    This command will create a private key and a public key. Then, copy the public key to your jump host:

    Prompt
    ssh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub user@jump_host

    You'll need to enter the user's password on the jump host to copy the key.

    Prompt
    nano ~/.ssh/config

    And add the following lines:

    Prompt
    Host jump_host HostName jump_host_IP User user Port port IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa Host target_host HostName target_host_IP User user Port port IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa ProxyJump jump_host

    This configuration allows you to connect to the target host via the jump host by typing:

    Prompt
    ssh target_host

    Congratulations! You've just set up a secure jump server for remote administration using OpenSSH.

    Conclusion on OpenSSH Jump Server Configuration

    Setting up a secure jump server using OpenSSH is an important step in managing remote servers securely. With this guide, you can now navigate the process easily, ensuring your remote administration activities are secure and efficient.

    Remember to always keep your system and software updated for the highest level of security.

    Suggest a Correction

    Found an error or have a suggestion? Let us know and we'll review it.

    Share this article

    Comments (0)

    Please sign in to leave a comment.

    No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

    Latest News